Source: Signal Tribune A handful of residents in a North Long Beach neighborhood tried their hand at organic waste collection this summer, giving a glimpse into the assurances and obstacles of an upcoming state-mandated program. The week-long project was led by Cal State University Dominguez Hills student Amber Alvarado, who is studying to be an ecologist and environmental scientist. Alvarado visited nearly 20 homes in July and handed residents fliers on what food and yard items to collect and the benefits of collecting organic waste. Senate Bill 1383 took effect in January 2022, requiring cities to implement a mandatory organic waste collection program. ... Read More
Science
Biology Student Named Aquarium of the Pacific African American Scholar
Fourth-year biology student Kimberly Randolph is the first CSUDH student to be named an African American Scholar of the Aquarium of the Pacific, an honor which includes a $10,000 scholarship and educational opportunities with the Aquarium. Randolph, originally from Modesto, Calif., is among ten exceptional California university students chosen for the 2023 award. Though she didn't grow up on the coast, as a child Randolph became interested in marine biology thanks to the BBC Planet Earth series and the gift of a pet hermit crab. “I started doing my own research on how to recreate hermit crabs' natural environments, and how it helps them thrive” she says. “It made me think that people ... Read More
New Book Explores the Resilience of the Ancient Maya
Throughout human history, civilizations have had to adapt to ever-shifting environments in order to survive–whether sudden, catastrophic climate events, or gradual changes that span centuries. These human-environmental relationships are at the center of The Maya and Climate Change (Oxford University Press, Nov. 2022), a new book by CSUDH Assistant Professor of Anthropology Ken Seligson. Since 2010, Seligson has worked on archaeological excavations and mapping in the northern Maya lowlands of Yucatán, Mexico. He wanted to research and write a book shifting the focus away from the oft-cited “collapse” of the Classic Maya civilization, and instead toward their centuries of socioecological ... Read More
Class of 2021 Scholars Reflect on the Toro Experience
Graduates from the Presidential Scholars Program, the McNair Scholarship Program, and the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship share their Toro experiences, inspirational faculty mentors, future plans, and more. Raquel Serrano, Women's Studies: Mellon Mays Scholar Inspirational Mentor(s): Associate Professor of Women's Studies Jenn Brandt. See below. Scholarship Takeaways: Through the Mellon Mays program Raquel has traveled, networked, and advanced her skills as a scholar. She calls the experience “one of the best things to happen in my life.” Campus Life: Raquel enjoyed many opportunities at CSUDH that helped “sky-rocket” her success. Next Move: Raquel has been accepted into ... Read More
Anthropology Student Rubi Landa Awarded National Science Foundation Fellowship
While the pandemic may have put a damper on anthropology student Yesenia “Rubi” Landa's plans to travel abroad to research the water management strategies of the Maya, her thirst for knowledge still resulted in sound data-driven conclusions. As an undergraduate researcher at CSUDH, Landa has examined climate change data gathered in Cerro Hul, a small Maya site in the Puuc region of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. She worked under the guidance of Assistant Professor of Anthropology Kenneth Seligson. “My research was conducted to estimate the total water storage capacity of underground cisterns - known as Chultuns - at Cerro Hul, and whether they would have been enough to support the ... Read More
